Vehicular diagnostic method, vehicular diagnostic system, vehicle and center

ABSTRACT

When determining that a failure has occurred, a vehicle ( 10 ) transmits alarm lamp illumination information, vehicle ID information and user identification information to a center ( 20 ). The center ( 20 ) transmits the received alarm lamp illumination information to an automobile dealer computer ( 30 ) at an automobile dealer. The center ( 20 ) then obtains abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer, prepares an abnormality notification, and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle ( 10 ). The vehicle ( 10 ) notifies a user of the abnormality notification, and reserves servicing at the automobile dealer through an operation of a reservation button performed by the user. With the reservation, the center ( 20 ) transmits an abnormality transmission request to the vehicle ( 10 ). The vehicle ( 10 ) collects failure information in response to the failure information transmission request, and transmits the failure information to the center ( 20 ). The center ( 20 ) transmits detailed abnormality countermeasure information transmitted from the automobile dealer to the vehicle ( 10 ).

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a vehicular diagnostic method for diagnosing anabnormality which has occurred in a vehicle, a vehicular diagnosticsystem, and elements of the vehicular diagnostic system (a vehicle and acenter in the vehicular diagnostic system).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent-Laid Open Publication No.62-94443, a vehicular diagnostic system has been known. The vehiculardiagnostic system includes a self-diagnostic device which diagnoses afailure in a vehicle. When a failure is detected by the self-diagnosticdevice, the diagnostic result is transmitted to a center. The centerestimates a cause of the failure based on the obtained diagnosticresult, and transmits countermeasures for the estimated cause of thefailure to the vehicle.

In the above vehicular diagnostic system, when a failure occurs in avehicle, a self-diagnostic result is transmitted to the center. Inrecent years, a large number of electronically controlled devices ismounted on a vehicle, and a large volume of data is output from thesedevices. Therefore, as in the vehicular diagnostic system, if theself-diagnostic result is transmitted to the center, an enormous volumeof communication data is transmitted, which may increase communicationcosts. Also, an enormous volume of communication data increasescommunication time, which raises a possibility that the center cannotdiagnose a failure in the vehicle in real time.

In addition, the number of vehicles communicating with the center hasincreased, and each vehicle transmits an enormous volume ofcommunication data, which raises a possibility that a communication lineis saturated. As a result, a communication disturbance may occur.Particularly, it should be avoided that communication with a vehicle indistress is interrupted. When the center and the vehicle communicatewith each other, necessary information should be transmitted/receivedwhen necessary.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicular diagnosticmethod in which necessary information can be transmitted/received whennecessary, a vehicular diagnostic system, and elements in the vehiculardiagnostic system (a vehicle and a center in the vehicular diagnosticsystem).

A first aspect of the invention relates to a vehicular diagnosticmethod. In the method, a vehicle and a center are connected so as to beable to communicate with each other, the vehicle transmits informationregarding a failure in the vehicle to the center, and the centerdiagnoses the failure which has occurred in the vehicle based on theinformation regarding the failure transmitted from the vehicle.

In the first aspect of the invention, the vehicle determines whether afailure has occurred in a device mounted in the vehicle. Whendetermining that a failure has occurred, the vehicle transmits firstfailure information indicating the occurrence of the failure to thecenter. After transmitting the first failure information to the center,the vehicle collects details regarding the failure, and then transmitssecond failure information indicating the collected details regardingthe failure to the center.

According to the first aspect, since the first failure informationindicates the fact that a failure has occurred in the vehicle, thevolume of data can be small. Therefore, a load placed on a communicationline due to transmission of the first failure information to the centercan be minimized, which enables the center to ascertain whether afailure has occurred in the vehicle in real time. As a result, thecenter can promptly provide a user with appropriate countermeasures.After transmitting the first failure information, the vehicle collectsdetails regarding the failure, and transmits the second failureinformation. The center can check the failure in more detail based onthe second failure information. Therefore, the center can provide theuser with more appropriate countermeasures.

In a second aspect of the invention, a vehicle determines whether afailure has occurred in a device mounted in the vehicle. Whendetermining that a failure has occurred, the vehicle transmits firstfailure information indicating the occurrence of the failure to acenter. The center receives the first failure information transmittedfrom the vehicle, and transmits first countermeasure informationindicating countermeasures for the occurrence of the failurecorresponding to the received first failure information. The vehiclereceives the first countermeasure information transmitted from thecenter, notifies a user of the vehicle of the countermeasures indicatedin the first countermeasure information based on the firstcountermeasure information, collects details regarding the failure, andtransmits second failure information indicating the collected detailsregarding the failure. The center receives the second failureinformation transmitted from the vehicle, checks the specifics regardingthe failure based on the obtained second failure information, andtransmits second countermeasure information indicating detailedcountermeasures for the failure corresponding to the second failureinformation to the vehicle. The vehicle receives the secondcountermeasure information transmitted from the center, and notifies theuser of the vehicle of detailed countermeasures indicated in the secondcountermeasure information based on the second countermeasureinformation.

According to the second aspect, since the center transmits the firstcountermeasure information for the occurrence of the failure based onthe first failure information, the user can ascertain the occurrence ofthe failure promptly, and can take appropriate measures to deal with thefailure easily. Ia addition, since the center transmits the secondcountermeasure information for the failure based on the second failureinformation, the user can take appropriate measures to deal with thefailure.

In this case, it is preferable that a computer which is connected to anetwork so as to be able to communicate with the center be provided inan automobile dealer which performs servicing of the vehicle, the centertransmit the first failure information and the second failureinformation transmitted from the vehicle, to the computer, and thecomputer prepare the first countermeasure information corresponding tothe first failure information transmitted from the center and the secondcountermeasure information corresponding to the second failureinformation transmitted from the center, and transmit the prepared firstcountermeasure information and the second countermeasure information tothe center.

Thus, the first countermeasure information and the second countermeasureinformation including expert opinions on the failure can be transmittedto the user. Therefore, the user can take more appropriatecountermeasures for the failure. Also, a engineer present at theautomobile dealer can analyze the specifics of the failure. This makesit possible to take individual countermeasures for each cause of thefailure, which enables the user to take more appropriate countermeasuresfor the failure.

The vehicle may determine whether a failure has occurred in a devicemounted in the vehicle based on whether an alarm lamp, which illuminateswhen an abnormality has occurred in the device mounted in the vehicle,illuminates. The first failure information may be alarm lampillumination information which indicates that the alarm lampilluminates.

Since the alarm lamp illumination information which indicates that thealarm lamp illuminates can be used as the first failure information, thevolume of data can be small. Therefore, a load placed on a communicationline due to transmission of the alarm lamp illumination information tothe center can be minimized, which enables the center to ascertainwhether a failure has occurred in the vehicle in real time. As a result,the center can promptly provide the user with countermeasures.

In the above-mentioned cases, it is preferable that details regardingthe failure indicated in the second failure information include at leastone of information indicating results of detection performed by varioussensors mounted in the vehicle, information indicating an operationstate of the device mounted in the vehicle, and information indicating aresult of self-diagnosis performed by the device mounted in the vehicle.Thus, the center or the automobile dealer can transmit the informationnecessary to accurately ascertain the specifics of the failure, andprovide the user with appropriate countermeasures.

It is preferable that the center transmit transmission requestinformation for requesting the vehicle to transmit the second failureinformation, after receiving the first failure information from thevehicle, and the vehicle receive the transmission request informationtransmitted from the center, and transmit the second failure informationto the center in response to the received transmission requestinformation. The center can thus obtain the second failure informationfrom the vehicle when necessary. Therefore, the center can transmit thesecond countermeasure information to the user at appropriate timing.

It is preferable that the vehicle determine whether the vehicle isrunning, and prohibit collection of at least the details regarding thefailure indicated in the second failure information when determiningthat the vehicle is running. Thus, the details regarding the failure arenot collected, when a high load is placed on in-vehicle units since thevehicle is running. This prevents an increase in the loads placed on thedevices related to functions necessary for the vehicle to operate,namely, devices related to “running, stopping, and turning of thevehicle”. Therefore, the user can drive the vehicle suitably.

In this case, it is preferable that the vehicle start collecting detailsregarding the failure indicated in the second failure informationaccording to a predetermined operation performed by the user of thevehicle when determining that the vehicle is stopped. It is alsopreferable that the predetermined operation performed by the user of thevehicle be an operation performed by the user for directing start ofcollection of the details regarding the failure indicated in the secondfailure information. Further, it is preferable that the predeterminedoperation performed by the user of the vehicle be an operation ofoperating means in which a function for directing start of collection ofthe details regarding the failure indicated in the second failureinformation is set in advance.

Thus, the vehicle can transmit the second failure information to thecenter at appropriate timing. Also, the second failure information istransmitted according to the operation performed by the user. Therefore,an intention of the user can be directly or indirectly reflected on thedetermination of whether the second failure information is to betransmitted.

The details regarding the failure to be collected may be only thedetails related to the occurrence of the failure indicated in the firstfailure information. This prevents loads to be placed on the devices inwhich a failure has not occurred. Therefore, the user can drive thevehicle suitably.

It is preferable that the vehicle transmit the first failure informationat intervals each of which is at least a predetermined period of time,when transmitting the first failure information to the center two ormore times. Also, it is preferable that the center receive the firstfailure information at intervals each of which is at least apredetermined period of time, when receiving the first failureinformation from the vehicle two or more times.

Thus, the vehicle transmits and the center receives the first failureinformation at intervals each of which is at least the predeterminedperiod of time, which reduces the load placed on the communication line.Also, the second failure information is transmitted after the firstfailure information is transmitted. Accordingly, bytransmitting/receiving the information by the vehicle/the center atintervals each of which is at least the predetermined period of time,the second failure information can be reliably transmitted/received.

It is preferable that the vehicle transmit the second failureinformation at intervals each of which is at least a predeterminedperiod of time, when transmitting the second failure information relatedto the same first failure information to the center two or more times.It is also preferable that the center receive the second failureinformation at intervals each of which is at least a predeterminedperiod of time, when receiving the second failure information related tothe same first failure information from the vehicle two or more times.

Thus, the same second failure information can be prevented from beingreceived more frequently than is necessary, which reduces unnecessarycommunication. However, the details regarding the second failureinformation may be changed due to a lapse of predetermined time, evenwhen the second failure information is related to the same first failureinformation. Even in this case, by transmitting/receiving the changedsecond failure information at appropriate timing, the center cantransmit the second countermeasure information based on the newestsecond failure information to the vehicle. Therefore, the user can takeappropriate countermeasures for the failure.

It is preferable that the center accumulate and store at least the firstfailure information from among the first failure information and thesecond failure information transmitted from the vehicle, and provide atleast the first failure information from among the accumulated andstored first failure information and second failure information, inresponse to a request from an external terminal device.

Thus, the user can check the failure which has occurred in the vehiclethrough the use of a cellular phone or the like as a terminal device,even when not being in the vehicle. Also, a person other than the user(e.g., a person responsible at an automobile dealer) can check thefailure which has occurred in the vehicle through the use of theterminal device. Thus, for example, when the alarm lamp of the vehicleturns off immediately after illuminating and the user has not recognizedoccurrence of the failure, the person other than the user can notify theuser of the occurrence of the failure.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a vehicular diagnosticsystem, in which a vehicle and a center are connected so as to be ableto communicate with each other, the vehicle transmits informationregarding a failure in the vehicle to the center, and the centerdiagnoses the failure which has occurred in the vehicle, based on theinformation regarding the failure transmitted from the vehicle. Thevehicle includes failure detecting means for detecting a failure whichhas occurred in a device mounted in the vehicle, failure informationoutputting means for obtaining and outputting failure informationdetected by the failure detecting means, failure information collectingmeans for collecting failure detailed information indicating detailsregarding the failure detected by the failure detecting means, failurenotifying means for obtaining the failure information output from thefailure information outputting means and for notifying a user of thefailure information, and vehicle communication means for transmittingthe failure information output from the failure information outputtingmeans and the failure detailed information collected by the failureinformation collecting means to the center, and for receivinginformation related to the failure which has occurred in the device fromthe center. The center is provided with center communication means forreceiving the failure information and the failure detailed informationtransmitted from the vehicle and for transmitting information regardingthe failure indicated in the received failure information and thefailure detailed information to the vehicle, failure specifics checkingmeans for checking the specifics of the failure based on the failureinformation and the failure detailed information received by the centercommunication means, countermeasure information preparing means forpreparing countermeasure information indicating countermeasures for thespecifics of the failure checked by the failure specifics checkingmeans, and storing means for accumulating and storing at least thefailure information from among the failure information and the failuredetailed information received by the center communication means.

Note that the vehicle and the center in the vehicle diagnostic systemaccording to the third aspect are within the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from the following description ofpreferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing an entire vehiculardiagnostic system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a vehicle shown in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing a center shown in FIG.1;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are a flowchart of an abnormality informationtransmission notifying program performed by the vehicle, the center andan automobile dealer personal computer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an abnormality notification preparing routineperformed by the center shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a failure information collecting routineperformed by a navigation ECU and a gateway ECU mounted in the vehicleshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a communication abnormality diagnostic programperformed by the vehicle and the center shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a response command status determining routineperformed by the vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views for describing a display screen of a displayunit when an abnormality occurs in the vehicle;

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are views for describing the display screen ofthe display unit when the vehicle receives an abnormality notification;

FIG. 11 is a view for describing an initial screen when a user accessesthe center through the use of a portable information terminal device ora personal computer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 12 is a view indicating a screen showing an alarm lamp illuminationhistory when the user accesses the center through the use of theportable information terminal device or the personal computer shown inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described in detailwith reference to accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagramschematically showing a vehicular diagnostic system according to theembodiment. The vehicular diagnostic system includes a vehicle 10, acenter 20 which can communicate with the vehicle 10, an automobiledealer computer 30 which is provided in an automobile dealer sellingvehicles and performing servicing, a personal computer 40 and a portableinformation terminal device 50 which can be used by a user. The vehicle10 and the portable information terminal device 50 can wirelesslycommunicate with a transmission site 70 connected to a network 60 (e.g.,the Internet). The center 20, the automobile dealer computer 30 and thepersonal computer 40 are connected to the network 60.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 includes a navigation ECU 11 whichprovides overall control of a navigation unit that searches for a routeto a destination set by the user and that provides the obtained route bydisplay or by voice. The navigation ECU 11 is a computer mainlyincluding a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like. An input device 12, a displayunit 13, and a communication device 14 are connected to the navigationECU 11.

The input device 12 includes an operation switch provided near thedisplay unit 13, a panel touch switch which is incorporated in thedisplay unit 13 and which detects a touch operation of a display panel,and the like. An instruction from the user is input in the input device12. The input device 12 then outputs information corresponding to theinstruction input by the user to the navigation ECU 11. The display unit13 includes a liquid crystal display and the like, and displayscharacters, graphics, and the like on the display panel based on theprovided various types of information.

The communication device 14 is undetachably mounted in the vehicle 10,and can communicate with the center 20 via the transmission site 70. Thecommunication device 14 is provided with identification information(hereinafter, referred to as MAC (Media Access Control) addressinformation) for identifying the communication device 14 duringmanufacturing. Also, vehicle ID information (e.g., vehicle numberinformation indicating a vehicle number assigned to the vehicle 10during manufacture, and a registration number provided by the motorvehicle official) assigned to the vehicle 10 is stored in thecommunication device 14 in advance. By making a contract with the center20, a user name, user ID information and a user password (hereinafter,these are collectively referred to as “user identification information”)and mail address information used for communication with the center 20are stored in the communication device 14 in advance. An antenna 14 awhich wirelessly communicates with the transmission site 70 is connectedto the communication device 14.

A gateway ECU 15 and the navigation ECU 11 are connected so as to beable to communicate with each other via a network (e.g., LAN (Local AreaNetwork)) built in the vehicle 10. The gateway ECU 15 is a computermainly including a CPU, ROM RAM and the like. The gateway ECU 15 isconnected to an engine ECU 16, a meter ECU 17, a door ECU 18, a body ECU19 and the like so as to be able to communicate with the ECUs 16, 17, 18and 19 via the network built in the vehicle 10. Each of the ECUs 16, 17,18 and 19 is a computer mainly including a CPU, ROM and RAM. Other thanthe ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, various ECUs are mounted in the vehicle 10.In the embodiment, however, description will be made, taking the ECUs16, 17, 18 and 19 as examples.

The gateway ECU 15 provides overall control of the flow of controlsignals for controlling various data shared by the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and19, and cooperation among the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19. The gateway ECU 15provides the meter ECU 17 with alarm lamp illumination informationindicating an alarm lamp illumination request which is output when anabnormality has occurred in the devices whose operation is controlled bythe ECUs 18 and 19, and provides overall control of the flow of thefailure information (diagnosis information) indicating details of theabnormality which has occurred in the ECUs 16, 17, 18 or 19.

The engine ECU 16 controls the operation of the engine based on the dataand signals detected by various sensors (e.g., an engine rotationalspeed sensor and a battery voltage sensor) attached to the engine andauxiliaries (not shown). The meter ECU 17 controls various types ofinformation displayed on meter devices (not shown) based on the data andsignals detected by various sensors (e.g., a vehicle speed sensor and acoolant temperature sensor). The meter ECU 17 controls illumination of aplurality of alarm lamps 17 a based on the alarm lamp information outputfrom the engine ECU 16 and alarm lamp illumination information outputfrom the ECUs 18 and 19 via the gateway ECU 15, and notifies the user ofan abnormality.

The door ECU 18 is attached to a door lock device (not shown), andcontrols the operation of the door lock device based on data and signalsdetected by various sensors (e.g., a remote control opening/closingdetecting sensor and a door lock sensor). The body ECU 19 controlsON/OFF of the lamp based on signals input from various switches (e.g., alight control switch and a door courtesy lamp switch) attached to avehicle body (body) (not shown).

Note that control performed by the ECUs 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 is notlimited to the above-mentioned control. Also, concrete processingprograms and concrete control methods of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 arenot related to the invention directly. Therefore, detailed descriptionof the programs and methods is omitted in the specification.

As shown in FIG. 3, the center 20 is provided with a control device 21,a storage device 22 and a communication device 23 which are connected soas to be able to communicate with each other. The control device 21includes a computer mainly provided with a CPU, ROM, RAM and the like,and provides overall control of the operation of the center 20. Thestorage device 22 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, and adrive device for the recording medium, and stores various programs andvarious data. The communication device 23 is wired to the network 60 soas to perform wire communication with the automobile dealer computer 30and the personal computer 40 which can be used by the user, andwirelessly communicate with the vehicle 10 and the portable informationterminal device 50 via the transmission site 70.

A user information database 24, an abnormality countermeasure database25, an automobile dealer information database 26 and a historyinformation database 27 are built in the center 20. The databases 24,25, 26 and 27 are connected to the network (e.g., LAN) built in thecenter 20, and is accessible from the control device 21.

The vehicle ID information regarding the vehicle 10, the MAC addressinformation assigned to the communication device 14 of the vehicle 10,and the mail address information; the automobile dealer identificationinformation indicating the automobile dealer which sold the vehicle 10;and the user identification information are linked to each other, andstored in the user information database 24. In order to allow for accessfrom the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminaldevice 50, the MAC address information of the devices 40 and 50 and themail address information used by the devices 40 and 50 for communicationwith the center 20, and the user identification information are linkedto each other and stored in the user information database 24.

The abnormality countermeasure database 25, as win be described later indetail, stores base sentences of countermeasures to be notified to theuser of the vehicle 10 (hereinafter, referred to as “default sentences”)for each type of abnormalities indicated in the alarm lamp illuminationinformation transmitted from the vehicle 10. An example of the defaultsentences is as follows; “an abnormality may have occurred in thesystem. Therefore, we will perform an inspection for safety. Please haveyour vehicle serviced. We apologize for the inconvenience”. This is forthe alarm lamp illumination information indicating an abnormality in thesystem.

The automobile dealer information database 26 stores business days,business hours and the like (hereinafter, referred to as “automobiledealer information”) of each automobile dealer. The automobile dealerinformation can be updated by accessing the center 20 through the use ofthe automobile dealer computer 30. Also, the time at which anafter-mentioned abnormality notification is transmitted to the user canbe stored in the automobile dealer information database 26 in advance.The center 20 can provide the user of the vehicle 10 with various typesof service corresponding to the business days and business hours of eachautomobile dealer, based on the information stored in the automobiledealer information database 26. For example, in the case of servicing ofthe vehicle 10, the information (e.g., an e-mail) for displaying abutton, which is used for making a phone call to the automobile dealerthat can provide the service, on the display unit 13 is transmitted anddisplayed, based on the business days and business hours of theautomobile dealer.

As described later in detail, the history of the alarm lamp illuminationtransmitted from the vehicle 10 and the countermeasures corresponding tothe illuminated alarm lamp, and the vehicle D information and the useridentification information are linked to each other and stored in thehistory information database 27.

The automobile dealer computer 30 mainly includes a CPU, ROM, RAM andthe like, and is provided with an input device, a display unit, acontrol device, a storage device and a communication device. Theautomobile dealer computer 30 can access the center 20 through theoperation performed by a person responsible at the automobile dealer.The automobile dealer computer 30 transmits various types of information(the abnormality countermeasure information, the automobile dealerinformation and the like) to the center 20, and receives various typesof information (the alarm lamp illumination information, the failureinformation and the like) from the center 20. The person responsible atthe automobile dealer can search for and obtain the entire informationregarding the center 20 (e.g., the history information database 26) byaccessing the center 20 through the use of the automobile dealercomputer 30. The vehicle ID information regarding the vehicle sold atthe automobile dealer and the customer information including the name ofthe vehicle user are linked to each other and stored in the storagedevice of the automobile dealer computer 30.

The personal computer 40 which can be used by the user mainly includes aCPU, ROM, RAM and the like, and is provided with an input device, adisplay unit, a control device, a storage device and a communicationdevice. The personal computer 40 can access the center 20 through theoperation performed by the user, and obtains the alarm lamp informationand the countermeasures from the history information database 27 of thecenter 20.

The portable information terminal device 50 mainly includes a CPU, ROM,RAM and the like, and is provided with an input device, a display unit,a control device, a storage device and a communication device. Theportable information terminal device 50 is compact in size so as to beportable. An antenna 54 a, which enables wireless communication with thetransmission site 70, is provided in the communication device of theportable information terminal device 50. The portable informationterminal device 50 can access the center 20 through the operationperformed by the user, and obtains the alarm lamp illuminationinformation and the countermeasures from the history informationdatabase 27 of the center 20. As the portable information terminaldevice 50, a cellular phone, a portable personal computer having acommunication function, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the likecan be employed.

In the thus configured vehicular diagnostic system, communication amongthe communication device 14 of the vehicle 10, the center 20, theautomobile dealer computer 30, the personal computer 40 and the portableinformation terminal device 50 is wirelessly performed via the antennas14 a and 54 a, and the transmission site 70, or performed via wirethrough the network 60. This communication is performed in a normalmethod, and does not have distinctive characteristics. Therefore, in thedescription below, when the term, “transmission” or “reception” is used,a suitable method for communication is employed fortransmission/reception.

Next, an operation of the thus configured vehicular diagnostic systemwill be described in detail. When an ignition switch (not shown) isturned ON by the user of the vehicle 10, the ECUs 11, 15, 16, 17, 18 and19 mounted in the vehicle 10 respectively control the operation of thedevices. The navigation ECU 11, the gateway ECU 15 and the meter ECU 17repeatedly perform an abnormality information transmission notifyingprogram shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C at predetermined short intervals incooperation with each other. In the abnormality information transmissionnotifying program, the routine is started in step S10, and the meter ECU17 determines whether an abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10 instep S11. The determination will be described in detail, taking the casewhere an abnormality has occurred in the engine as an example.

The engine ECU 16 controls the operation state of the engine based onsignals output from the various sensors attached to the engine and theauxiliaries. In the case where the engine is operating, when a signalindicative of an engine rotational speed output from the enginerotational speed sensor indicates an abnormality, the engine ECU 16outputs the alarm lamp illumination information to the meter ECU 17 suchthat the alarm lamp indicating an abnormality in the engine illuminates.The door ECU 18 and the body ECU 19 output the alarm lamp illuminationinformation to the meter ECU 17 via the gateway ECU 15.

The meter ECU 17 recognizes occurrence of an abnormality in the vehicle10 by obtaining the alarm lamp illumination information output from theengine ECU 16. When obtaining the alarm lamp illumination information,the meter ECU 17 makes an affirmative determination in step S11 since anabnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10, afterwhich step S12 isperformed. On the other hand, when not obtaining the alarm lampillumination information, the meter ECU 17 makes a negativedetermination in step S11 since an abnormality has not occurred in thevehicle 10. Then, the abnormality information transmission notifyingprogram temporarily ends in step S24.

In step S12, the meter ECU 17 performs illumination control of the alarmlamp 17 a corresponding to the alarm lamp illumination informationobtained in step S11. The user can thus recognize occurrence of anabnormality in the vehicle 10.

The illumination operation of the alarm lamp can be performed asdescribed below. The meter ECU 17 obtains information (bit data)regarding illumination of the alarm lamp output from the ECUs 16, 18,and 19, and stores the information in the RAM. The meter ECU 17 thencompares the bit data stored in the RAM with the bit data newly outputfrom the ECUs 16, 18 and 19. If there is a change in the bit data, themeter ECU 17 illuminates the corresponding alarm lamp. The alarm lampcan be thus illuminated considerably easily.

The meter ECU 17 provides the obtained alarm lamp illuminationinformation to the navigation ECU 11 via the gateway ECU 15. Thenavigation ECU 11 obtains the provided alarm lamp illuminationinformation, and provides the obtained alarm lamp illuminationinformation to the display unit 13. When obtaining the provided alarmlamp illumination information, the display unit 13 displays a messageindicating occurrence of an abnormality in the vehicle 10 on a liquidcrystal display, as shown in FIG. 9A. When a predetermined time haselapsed since the massage was displayed, as shown in FIG. 9B, thedisplay unit 13 deletes the message and displays an alarm icon 13 aindicating occurrence of an abnormality in the engine on the liquidcrystal display so as to continue notifying the user of the occurrenceof the abnormality.

After step S12 is performed, the navigation ECU 11 transmits the alarmlamp illumination information, the vehicle ID information and the userID information to the center 20 using the communication device 14 instep S13. More particularly, the navigation ECU 11 provides thecommunication device 14 with the alarm lamp illumination informationobtained in step S12, and instructs the communication device 14 totransmit the vehicle ID information and the user identificationinformation as well as the alarm lamp illumination information. Thecommunication device 14 obtains the alarm lamp illumination information,and transmits the alarm lamp illumination information, the vehicle IDinformation and the user identification information to the center 20. Atthis time, the communication device 14 also transmits the MAC addressinformation assigned thereto to the center 20.

In the center 20, in step C10, the alarm lamp illumination information,the vehicle ID information, the user identification information and theMAC address information of the communication device 14 transmitted inS13 are received by the control device 21, and temporarily stored in theRAM (not shown), afterwhich step C11 is performed.

In step C11, the control device 21 transmits the alarm lamp illuminationinformation temporarily stored in the RAM in step C10 to the automobiledealer computer 30. This transmission process will be described indetail. The control device 21 obtains the vehicle ID information and theuser identification information temporarily stored in the RAM in stepC10, and searches the user information database 24 based on the obtainedinformation. The control device 21 then obtains the stored automobiledealer information linked to the vehicle ID information and the useridentification information. When obtaining the automobile dealerinformation, the control device 21 transmits the alarm lamp illuminationinformation and the vehicle ID information to the automobile dealerindicated in the automobile dealer information (more specifically, theautomobile dealer computer 30) via the communication device 23 and thenetwork 60.

In the automobile dealer, in step D10, the alarm lamp illuminationinformation and the vehicle ID information transmitted from the center20 in step C11 are received by the automobile dealer computer 30, andtemporarily stored in the RAM (not shown). In this case, when receivingthe alarm lamp illumination information and the vehicle ID informationfrom the center 20, the automobile dealer computer 30 displays a messageindicating reception of the alarm lamp illumination information, forexample, “alarm lamp illumination information is received”, on thedisplay screen of the display unit (not shown) so as to notify theperson responsible or the engineer at the automobile dealer(hereinafter, referred to as the “person(s) responsible”) of thereception of the information. When the message is displayed, theperson(s) responsible operates the automobile dealer computer 30, anddecides the abnormality countermeasure information to be transmitted tothe vehicle 10 so as to deal with the abnormality indicated by theilluminated alarm lamp.

The abnormality countermeasure information will be described in detail.The abnormality countermeasure information is prepared by eachautomobile dealer. More particularly, the person(s) responsible operatesthe automobile dealer computer 30 and accesses the abnormalitycountermeasure database 25 of the center 20 in advance so as to obtainthe default sentences stored in the abnormality countermeasure database25. The person(s) responsible adds necessary items (e.g., a greeting) tothe default sentences obtained from the center 20 so as to prepare theabnormality countermeasure information specific to the automobiledealer. For example, as a necessary item, a greeting such as “we wouldlike to express our thanks for your loyal patronage” is added to thedefault sentences, “an abnormality may have occurred in the system.Therefore, we will perform an inspection for safety. Please have yourvehicle serviced. We apologize for the inconvenience”. The abnormalitycountermeasure information is thus prepared and stored in the storagedevice. Note that it is obvious that the abnormality countermeasureinformation is prepared for each type of abnormalities.

When receiving the alarm lamp illumination information in step D10, theperson(s) responsible selects and decides the optimum abnormalitycountermeasure information in all the abnormality countermeasureinformation stored in the storage device, for the received alarm lampillumination information. Also, by referring to the customer informationstored in the storage device of the automobile dealer computer 30, theperson(s) responsible can select the method for handling the user nameattached to the abnormality notification prepared by the “abnormalitynotification preparing routine” performed by the center 20.

When the abnormality notification is transmitted to the vehicle 10,there is a possibility that the vehicle 10 is running and theabnormality notification is output by voice. There may be various waysto read the user name, and the user may feel discomfort if the user nameis read wrongly. Therefore, the person(s) responsible selects whether toread the user name attached to the transmitted abnormality notificationwhen deciding the abnormality countermeasure information. Theinformation indicative of the selection made by the person(s)responsible is added to the decided abnormality countermeasureinformation. The person(s) responsible can designate the time at whichthe abnormality notification is transmitted for the abnormalitycountermeasure information. The center 20 can thus transmit theabnormality notification at the designated time.

When the optimum abnormality countermeasure information is decided bythe person(s) responsible, in step D11, the automobile dealer computer30 transmits the decided abnormality countermeasure information to thecenter 20 via the network 60.

In the center 20, in step C12, the abnormality countermeasureinformation transmitted from the automobile dealer computer 30 in stepD11 is received by the control device 21, and temporarily stored in theRAM (not shown), afterwhich step C13 is performed. In step C13, thealarm lamp illumination information received in step C10, theabnormality countermeasure information received in step C12 and the dateand time when the alarm lamp illumination information is received arelinked to each other, and stored in the history information database 27by the control device 21.

After step C13 is performed, the control device 21 performs the“abnormality notification preparing routine” in step C14. As shown inFIG. 5, the “abnormality notification preparing routine” is started instep C100. In step C101, the control device 21 determines whether theilluminating alarm lamp illuminates for the first time. Namely, thecontrol device 21 searches for the alarm lamp illumination informationstored in the history information database 27 using the alarm lampillumination information received in step C10. As a result of thesearch, when the same alarm lamp illumination information is not storedin the history information database 27, it can be determined that thealarm lamp illuminates for the first time. Therefore the control device21 makes an affirmative determination, and step C103 is then performed.

On the other hand, as a result of the search of the history informationdatabase 27, when the same alarm lamp illumination information isstored, it can be determined that the alarm lamp has illuminated before,that is, this is not the first time the alarm lamp illuminates.Therefore, the control device 21 makes a negative determination, andstep C102 is then performed. In step C102, the control device 21determines whether the present alarm lamp illumination information isreceived after a predetermined time (e.g., 7 days) has elapsed since theprevious alarm lamp illumination information was received. Moreparticularly, the control device 21 compares the date and time when thepresent alarm lamp illumination information is received with the dateand time, which is stored in the history information database 27, whenthe previous alarm lamp illumination information was received. Thecontrol device 21 thus determines whether the predetermined time haselapsed since the previous alarm lamp illumination information wasreceived.

When it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed since theprevious alarm lamp illumination information was received, the controldevice 21 makes an affirmative determination, and step C103 is thenperformed. On the other hand, when it is determined that thepredetermined time has not elapsed since the previous alarm lampillumination information was received, the control device 21 makes anegative determination, and the “abnormality notification preparingroutine” ends in step C107.

By determining whether the present alarm lamp illumination informationis received after the predetermined time has elapsed since the previousalarm lamp illumination information was received, the same abnormalitynotification can be prevented from being transmitted to the vehicle 10more frequently than is necessary. This prevents the user from receivingthe same abnormality notification more frequently than is necessary,which minimizes confusion felt by the user.

In step C103, the control device 21 prepares the abnormalitynotification (e-mail) to be transmitted to the vehicle 10. Thepreparation of the abnormality notification will be described below indetail. The control device 21 prepares the abnormality notification in apredetermined format using an abnormality notification format set inadvance (e.g., HTML format, or XML format). The control device 21obtains the user identification information temporarily stored in theRAM, and searches the user information database 24 using the useridentification information. Then, in all the user identificationinformation stored in the user information database 24, the controldevice 21 searches for the user identification information matching theuser identification information temporarily stored in the RAM, andextracts the matching user identification information. The controldevice 21 then obtains the mail address linked to the extracted useridentification information.

Next, the control device 21 obtains the abnormality countermeasureinformation received from the automobile dealer computer 30 in step C12and temporarily stored in the RAM. The control device 21 thenincorporates the information indicating the user name, which is includedin the user identification information, and the abnormalitycountermeasure information into the abnormality notification format.Thus, the user name can be indicated in the abnormality notification,when the abnormality notification is transmitted to the vehicle 10 andindicated. The control device 21 thus prepares the abnormalitynotification, and step C104 is then performed.

The number of the pieces of the alarm lamp illumination informationtransmitted from the vehicle 10 is not limited to one. Various types ofthe alarm lamp illumination information may be transmitted. In thiscase, the control device 21 classifies the alarm lamp illuminationinformation into plural groups depending on the type of information inadvance (e.g., the alarm lamp illumination information related tomaintenance and the alarm lamp illumination information related to anabnormality in the system). The control device 21 then incorporates theabnormality notifications for the plural pieces of alarm lampillumination information into one piece of abnormality notification,according to the following rules.

When receiving plural pieces of alarm lamp illumination informationrelated to maintenance, the control device 21 incorporates these piecesof information into one piece of maintenance warning information, andautomatically prepares the abnormality notification for the maintenancewarning information. At this time, since having received the abnormalitycountermeasure information for each alarm lamp illumination informationfrom the automobile dealer computer 30, the control device 21 preparesthe abnormality notification including all the abnormalitycountermeasure information.

When receiving plural pieces of alarm lamp illumination informationrelated to an abnormality in the system, the control device 21incorporates these pieces of information into one piece of systemwarning information, and automatically prepares the abnormalitynotification for the system warning information. At this time, sincehaving received the abnormality countermeasure information for eachalarm lamp illumination information from the automobile dealer computer30, the control device 21 prepares the abnormality notificationincluding all the abnormality countermeasure information.

When receiving both the alarm lamp illumination information related tomaintenance and the alarm lamp illumination information related to anabnormality in the system, the control device 21 incorporates thesepieces of information into one piece of system warning information. Thisis because the alarm lamp illumination information related to anabnormality in the system has a larger effect on the running state ofthe vehicle than the alarm lamp illumination information related tomaintenance. The control device 21 then automatically prepares theabnormality notification for the system warning information. At thistime, the control device 21 has received the abnormality countermeasureinformation for the alarm lamp illumination information related to anabnormality in the system from the automobile dealer computer 30.Therefore, the control device 21 prepares the abnormality notificationby including all the received abnormality countermeasure information,and including the state where the abnormality has occurred based on thealarm lamp illumination information related to maintenance.

Incorporating plural pieces of alarm lamp illumination information intoone abnormality notification reduces the number of times that theabnormality notification is transmitted to the vehicle 10. Communicationcost can be thus reduced, which prevents confusion over the abnormalitynotification felt by the user.

Next, in step C104, the control device 21 determines whether the username included in the abnormality notification prepared in step C103 isset to be read. Namely, the control device 21 detects selectioninformation about whether the user name is read, the selectioninformation being added to the abnormality countermeasure information bythe person(s) responsible at the automobile dealer. When the selectioninformation indicates that the user name is to be read, the controldevice 21 makes an affirmative determination, and step C105 is thenperformed.

In step C105, the control device 21 makes the setting such that the username included in the abnormality notification prepared in step C103 isread. In the embodiment, the abnormality notification is prepared in theXML format or the HTML format. Therefore, when the abnormalitynotification is transmitted to the vehicle 10 and output by voice as itis, the user name can be read. Accordingly, when the abnormalitynotification is prepared in such a format, the setting process in stepC105 may be a process where the setting of the abnormality notificationis not changed. After step C105 is performed, the “abnormalitynotification preparing routine” ends in step C107.

On the other hand, when the detected selection information indicatesthat the user name is not to be read, the control device 21 makes anegative determination in step C104, and step C106 is then performed. Instep C106, the control device 21 makes the setting such that the username included in the abnormality notification prepared in step C103 isnot read. Since the abnormality notification is prepared in the XMLformat or the HTML format, by applying a predetermined command (e.g., Wuser name W) to the description corresponding to the user name, settingis made such that the user name is not read. After step C106 isperformed, the “abnormality notification preparing routine” ends in stepC107.

Then, the process returns to the flowchart in FIGS. 4A to 4C. After the“abnormality notification preparing routine” is performed in step C14,step C15 is performed. In step C15, the control device 21 transmits theabnormality notification prepared in step C14 to the vehicle 10. Namely,the control device 21 transmits the abnormality notification to thevehicle 10 via the communication device 23 and the transmission site 70connected to the network 60. In this transmission, the control device 21can check the time at which the abnormality notification stored in theautomobile dealer information database 26 may be transmitted, and thentransmit the abnormality notification. In this case, the control device21 transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle 10 at thetransmission time set in advance. Accordingly, for example, when theuser designates the abnormality notification transmission time andnotifies the automobile dealer of the designated time in advance, theuser can receive the abnormality notification at the designated time.Therefore, the user can suitably receive the abnormality notification.

In the vehicle 10, in step S14, the communication device 14 receives theabnormality notification transmitted in step C15, and provides thereceived abnormality notification to the navigation ECU 11. Whenobtaining the abnormality notification from the communication device 14,the navigation ECU 11 notifies the user of the obtained abnormalitynotification in step S15. More particularly, the navigation ECU 11provides the abnormality notification to the display unit 13, andinstructs the display unit 13 to display the abnormality notification onthe liquid crystal display. As shown in FIG. 10A, the display unit 13displays a message indicating that the abnormality notification isreceived on the liquid crystal display according to the instruction.When an instruction is made such that the abnormality notificationshould be checked through the touch operation performed by the user (theuser touches the button indicating “YES”), the display unit 13 displaysthe abnormality notification provided by the navigation ECU 11, as shownin FIG. 10B. Thus, the user can check the information regarding theabnormality which has occurred in the vehicle 10 and the countermeasuresfor the abnormality. In this case, the user name is indicated in thedisplayed abnormality notification. Note that, in FIGS. 10B, 10C, 11 and12, the words, phrase and sentences, such as “an abnormality may haveoccurred in the system. Please stop the vehicle at a safe place and makecontact with us. We apologize for your inconvenience.” and words areindicated outside the screen of the display unit 13, using outgoinglines, due to limitations of space. However, these sentences, phrase andwords are actually indicated on the screen

The abnormality notification in FIG. 10B can be displayed through thetouch operation of the display unit 13 only when the vehicle 10 isstopped. Therefore, when the user performs touch operation of the liquidcrystal display while the vehicle 10 is running, a message is displayed,as shown in FIG. 10C, indicating that the abnormality notification shownin FIG. 10B cannot be displayed while the vehicle is running. When thevehicle is running, the user can make an instruction such that theabnormality notification is output by voice using a voice recognitiondevice (not shown). This also enables the user to check the abnormalitynotification. In this case, when setting is made such that the user nameincluded in the abnormality notification is read, the user name isoutput by voice. On the other hand, when setting is made such that theuser name is not read, the user name is not output by voice.

After step S15 is performed, in step S16, the navigation ECU 11determines whether the touch operation of a reservation button 13 bshown in FIG. 10B is performed by the user. In this case, it is obviousthat the user cannot make a reservation through the touch operation ofthe reservation button 13 b if the vehicle 10 is not stopped. Thereservation button 13 b is used for reserving the date and time when thevehicle 10 is brought to the automobile dealer for servicing. When thetouch operation of the reservation button 13 b is performed, thenavigation ECU 11 makes an affirmative determination, afterwhich stepS17 is performed.

On the other hand, when the touch operation of the reservation button 13b is not performed by the user within a predetermined time (e.g., 30seconds), the navigation ECU 11 makes a negative determination in stepS16. The abnormality information transmission notifying programtemporarily ends in step S24.

When the abnormality information transmission notifying program thusends, the after-mentioned failure information (diagnostic information)is not transmitted to the center 20 and the automobile dealer.Therefore, by incorporating a command for transmitting the failureinformation (diagnostic information) into an operation button (e.g.,“return” button and “forward” button) provided in an advertisementtransmitted arbitrarily by the center 20, step S20 and the followingsteps in the after-mentioned abnormality information transmissionprogram can be performed due to the touch operation of the operationbutton performed by the user.

When the command is incorporated into the operation button and thefailure information (diagnostic information) is transmitted, thefollowing conditions need to be satisfied in order to minimizeunnecessary communication. The conditions are as follows: (a); thecenter 20 transmits the present abnormality notification within, forexample, four weeks after the previous abnormality notification wastransmitted, and also, received the same alarm lamp illuminationinformation as the present abnormality notification within, for example,two weeks before the present abnormality notification is transmitted,and (b); for example, four or more weeks have elapsed since the center20 received the failure information (diagnostic information) related tothe alarm lamp illumination information.

The condition (a) is used for identifying the state where the same alarmlamp illumination information is frequently transmitted to the center20, and the center 20 repeatedly transmits the abnormality notification(as mentioned above, the intervals of seven days or more are maintained,though). The condition (b) is used for identifying the state where,although the center 20 received the failure information (diagnosticinformation) related to the same alarm lamp illumination information,the failure information (diagnostic information) becomes old due to thelapse of the predetermined time. In this case, due to the condition (b),the vehicle 10 does not transmit the failure information (diagnosticinformation) to the center 20 before the predetermined time (four weeks)elapses after the failure information (diagnostic information) istransmitted to the center 20.

When the above-mentioned conditions (a) and (b) are satisfied, thecontrol device 21 of the center 20 incorporates the command into anadvertisement or the like, and transmits it to the vehicle 10. When thetouch operation of the operation button is performed by the user, thenavigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 perform after-mentioned stepS20 and the following steps. Thus, even when the touch operation of areservation button 13 b is not performed by the user, the center 20 andthe automobile dealer can obtain the failure information (diagnosticinformation) required for servicing. Even in this case, it is obviousthat the touch operation by the user can be performed only when thevehicle is stopped.

In step S17, the navigation ECU 11 provides the communication device 14with the reservation information indicating that the touch operation ofthe reservation button 13 b is performed, and instructs thecommunication device 14 to transmit the reservation information to thecenter 20. The communication device 14 transmits the reservationinformation to the center 20 according to the instruction. In thetransmission of the reservation information, the communication device 14transmits the MAC address information thereof along with the reservationinformation.

In the center 20, in step C16, the reservation information transmittedin step S17 and the MAC address information are received by the controldevice 21, and temporarily stored in the RAM. The control device 21searches for and extracts the MAC address information matching the MACaddress information stored in the RAM in all the MAC address informationstored in the user information database 24, using the MAC addressinformation temporarily stored in the RAM. The control device 21 thenobtains the stored automobile dealer identification information linkedto the extracted MAC address information.

Next, the control device 21 searches the automobile dealer informationdatabase 26 using the obtained automobile dealer identificationinformation, and obtains the automobile dealer information regarding theautomobile dealer identified by the automobile dealer identificationinformation. The control device 21 then checks the business days andbusiness hours of the automobile dealer, and transmits the reservationinformation to the automobile dealer computer 30.

When it is found, as a result of checking the business days and businesshours of the automobile dealer, that the reservation cannot be made, forexample, the control device 21 can receive the present locationinformation regarding the vehicle 10 from the navigation ECU 11 of thevehicle 10 and notify the user of an automobile dealer near the presentlocation indicated in the present location information. The controldevice 21 can search the automobile dealer database 26, and transmit theinformation regarding the automobile dealer which can be reserved so asto notify the user of the information.

The automobile dealer computer 30 obtains the reservation informationtransmitted in step C16 and resisters the servicing reservation in stepD12, afterwhich step D13 is performed. In step D13, the automobiledealer computer 30 transmits the registration completion notificationfor the user, indicating that registration of servicing is completed, tothe center 20.

In the center 20, the control device 21 receives the registrationcompletion notification transmitted from the automobile dealer computer30 in step D13 and the failure information transmission request in stepC17, and step C18 is then performed. In step C18, the control device 21transmits the received registration completion notification and thefailure information transmission request to the vehicle 10. The failureinformation transmission request is transmitted such that detailedinformation regarding an abnormality which has occurred in the vehicle10, that is, the failure information (diagnostic information) istransmitted.

In the vehicle 10, in step S18, the communication device 14 receives theregistration completion notification and the failure informationtransmission request transmitted in step C18, and provides the receivedinformation to the navigation ECU 11.

In step S19, the navigation ECU 11 provides the display unit 13 with theregistration completion notification provided in step S18. The displayunit 13 displays the provided registration completion notification onthe liquid crystal display. The user can thus check completion of theservicing reservation of the vehicle 10.

In step S20, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether the vehicle 10 isstopped via the gate way ECU 15, using the various data output from theECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 via the gateway ECU 15. The navigation ECU 11repeatedly performs step S20 until it is determined that the vehicle 10is stopped. When it is determined that the vehicle 10 is stopped, thenavigation ECU 11 makes an affirmative determination, and step S21 isthen performed.

In step S21, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 perform the“failure information collecting routine” shown in FIG. 6 in cooperationwith each other. The “failure information collecting routine” is usedfor collecting the failure information (diagnostic information). Thediagnostic information is output from each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19mounted in the vehicle 10. Therefore, when the routine is performedwhile the vehicle is running, loads may be placed on the ECUs 16, 17, 18and 19. Accordingly, the “failure information collecting routine” isperformed while the vehicle 10 is stopped.

The “failure information collecting routine” is started in step N10. Instep N11, the navigation ECU 11 requests the gateway ECU 15 to outputthe failure information related to the alarm lamp illuminationinformation based on the failure information transmission requestreceived in step S18.

In step G10, the gateway ECU 15 obtains the output request provided fromthe navigation ECU 11 in step N11, and step G11 is then performed. Instep G11, the gateway ECU 15 outputs the output request signal to theECU, in which an abnormality related to the alarm lamp illuminationinformation has occurred, among the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 via thenetwork built in the vehicle such that the diagnostic information isoutput. The diagnostic information includes detection values obtained byvarious sensors, the operation state data of devices controlled by theECUs, and the like. The diagnostic information is stored in the RAM (notshown) of each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19.

The navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 check whether the failureinformation transmission request transmitted from the center 20 isaccidentally changed to another command through communication incooperation with each other, in order to prevent unnecessary operationdue to the other command. When another command transmitted from thecenter 20 is accidentally changed to the failure informationtransmission request through communication, the gateway ECU 15 does notoutput the request signal to the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19.

In step G12, the gateway ECU 15 obtains the diagnostic information.Among the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, the ECU, in which an abnormalityrelated to the alarm lamp illumination information has occurred, outputsthe diagnostic information stored in the RAM thereof to the gateway ECU15 via the network. The gateway ECU 15 obtains the output diagnosticinformation, and step G13 is then performed.

In step G13, the gateway ECU 15 determines whether the data volume ofthe diagnostic information obtained in step G12 is equal to or largerthan a predetermined information volume. As mentioned above, thediagnostic information includes the detection values obtained by varioussensors and the operation state data. Accordingly, for example, whenabnormalities have occurred in two or more devices, the data volume ofthe diagnostic information to be obtained may be enormous. Due to theflow of the enormous volume of the diagnostic information through thenetwork built in the vehicle 10, the network may be saturated. When theenormous volume of the diagnostic information is transmitted to thecenter 20 and the automobile dealer, communication time andcommunication costs are also increased. Particularly, due to an increasein the communication time, a failure may occur in the communicationbetween another vehicle and the center 20. In this case, thepredetermined information volume is set in consideration ofcommunication time and communication costs. When the determination ismade, the gateway ECU 15 buffers the output diagnostic information inthe RAM thereof.

When it is determined that the data volume of the diagnostic informationis equal to or larger than the predetermined information volume, thegateway ECU 15 makes an affirmative determination, and step G14 is thenperformed. In step G14, the gateway ECU 15 divides the obtaineddiagnostic information into plural pieces of the information such thateach piece has the predetermined information volume, and outputs eachpiece of diagnostic information to the navigation ECU 11.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the data volume of theobtained diagnostic information is smaller than the predeterminedinformation volume, the gateway ECU 15 makes a negative determination instep G13, and step G15 is then performed. In step G15, the gateway 15outputs the obtained diagnostic information to the navigation ECU 11. Instep N12, the navigation ECU 11 obtains the diagnostic informationoutput in step G14 or step G15. At this time, the navigation ECU 11 canobtain the diagnostic information from the gateway ECU 15 only for apredetermined time (e.g., approximately 10 seconds). This prevents thediagnostic information having an enormous data volume from flowingthrough the network built in the vehicle 10. As a result, the networkcan be effectively prevented from being saturated. In addition, sincethe data volume of the diagnostic information obtained by the navigationECU 11 is limited, communication time and communication costs can bereduced when the diagnostic information is transmitted to the center 20and the automobile dealer. The navigation ECU 11 then ends the“abnormality information collecting routine” in step N13.

When the vehicle is placed in the automobile dealer for servicing, afailure information obtaining device (diagnostic tool) may be connectedto the network built in the vehicle, and the diagnostic information maybe collected by the failure information obtaining device. At this time,the output request signal output from the failure information obtainingdevice to each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 is the same as the outputrequest signal output from the gateway ECU 15 (or the failureinformation transmission request transmitted from the center 20).Therefore, each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 outputs the diagnosticinformation stored in the RAM thereof to the network.

However, the gateway ECU 15 can distinguish between the output requestsignal output therefrom and the output request signal output from thefailure information obtaining device. Therefore, the gateway 15 does notprovide the navigation ECU 11 with the diagnostic information output tothe network, when the failure information obtaining device is connectedto the network. This prevents the diagnostic information from beingerroneously transmitted from the vehicle placed in the automobile dealerfor servicing to the center 20 and the automobile dealer, whichminimizes unnecessary communication.

Note that prevention of erroneous transmission of the diagnosticinformation may be performed as below. The gateway ECU 15 preventserroneous transmission of the diagnostic information output from theECUs (e.g., the engine ECU 16) connected to the control system network(CAN) among the networks built in the vehicle 10. Meanwhile, thenavigation ECU 11 prevents erroneous transmission of the diagnosticinformation output from the ECUs (e.g., the door ECU 18) connected tothe body system network (BEAN) among the networks built in the vehicle10. Thus, erroneous transmission of the diagnostic information may beprevented by the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15.

The process returns to the flowchart in FIGS. 4A to 4C again. After stepS21 is performed, the navigation ECU 11 provides the communicationdevice 14 with the obtained diagnostic information, and thecommunication device 14 transmits the diagnostic information to thecenter 20 in step S22. When the diagnostic information is divided intoplural pieces, the navigation ECU 11 provides these pieces of diagnosticinformation to the communication device 14 one by one, and thecommunication device 14 transmits these pieces of diagnostic informationto the center 20 one by one in the order of provision. In thistransmission, the communication device 14 transmits the vehicle IDinformation along with the diagnostic information.

In the case where the failure information obtaining device is connectedto the network, when a failure has occurred in the gateway ECU 15 and anenormous volume of diagnostic information is transmitted to the center20, the center 20 does not receive this diagnostic information. Namely,the center 20 can determine whether the diagnostic information is thediagnostic information transmitted according to the failure informationtransmission request transmitted therefrom. When the diagnosticinformation is transmitted due to a failure in the gateway ECU 15, thecenter 20 separately transmits a command for canceling the transmissionof the diagnostic information to the navigation ECU 11. This preventsunnecessary communication between the vehicle 10 and the center 20.

In the center 20, in step C19, the control device 21 receives thefailure information (diagnostic information) transmitted in step S22.The control device 21 then transmits the failure information (diagnosticinformation) to the automobile dealer computer 30 which has transmittedthe registration completion notification, in step C20.

In step D14, the automobile dealer computer 30 receives the failureinformation (diagnostic information) transmitted in step C20, and stepD15 is then performed. In step D15, the abnormality countermeasureinformation, which is more detailed than the abnormality countermeasureinformation transmitted in step D11 is transmitted based on the receivedfailure information (diagnostic information). The person(s) responsiblecan accurately ascertain the abnormality which has occurred in thevehicle 10 by analyzing the received failure information (diagnosticinformation) in detail.

Accordingly, the person(s) responsible can deal with the cause of thefailure which has occurred in the vehicle 10 individually, compared withthe case where the alarm lamp illumination information is obtained.Therefore, the person(s) responsible prepares detailed countermeasuresfor the time until the vehicle 10 is placed in the automobile dealer forservicing. Examples of the countermeasures are “the engine coolanttemperature is high. Please stop the vehicle at a safe place, and waitthere until a carrier vehicle arrives” and “the abnormality does notcause a problem in running. Please keep driving and bring the vehicle inthe automobile dealer you have reserved”. The automobile dealer computer30 then transmits the detailed abnormality countermeasure informationindicating the detailed abnormality countermeasures prepared by theperson(s) responsible to the center 20. Then, the “abnormalityinformation transmission notifying program” ends in step D16.

In the center 20, in step C21, the control device 21 receives thedetailed abnormality countermeasure information transmitted in step D15.The control device 21 then searches the user information database 24 andobtains the mail address information of the user, using the vehicle IDinformation received in step C19. The control device 21 transmits thereceived detail abnormality countermeasure information using theobtained mail address information. The control device 21 then ends the“abnormality information transmission notifying program” in step C22.

In the vehicle 10, in step S23, the communication device 14 receives thedetailed abnormality countermeasure information transmitted in step C21,and provides the information to the navigation ECU 11. The navigationECU 11 obtains the detailed abnormality countermeasure information. Thenavigation ECU 11 then provides the detailed abnormality countermeasureinformation to the display unit 13. The display unit 13 notifies theuser of the detailed abnormality countermeasure information bydisplaying the information on the liquid crystal display or by voice, inthe same manner as the notification in step S15. When the detailedabnormality countermeasure information is thus notified to the user, thenavigation ECU 11 ends the “abnormality information transmissionnotifying program” in step S24.

In the above-mentioned vehicular diagnostic system, through thecommunication between the vehicle 10 and the center 20, the vehicle 10transmits the alarm lamp illumination information and the failureinformation (diagnostic information) indicating an abnormality which hasoccurred in the vehicle 10 to the center 20, and the center 20 transmitsthe abnormality notification based on the abnormality countermeasureinformation from the automobile dealer, to the vehicle 10. Accordingly,it is necessary to make a diagnosis of whether the communication betweenthe vehicle 10 and the center 20 is performed appropriately atpredetermined intervals. The diagnosis of the communication will bedescribed below in detail.

The diagnosis of the communication is made by performing the“communication abnormality diagnostic program” shown in FIG. 7 atpredetermined intervals. The “communication abnormality diagnosticprogram” is started in step C150. In step C151, the control device 21 ofthe center 20 transmits a predetermined command for diagnosing thecommunication state (hereinafter, referred to as a “request command”) tothe vehicle 10.

In the vehicle 10, in step S150, the communication device 14 receivesthe request command transmitted in step C151, and provides the receivedrequest command to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 obtainsthe provided request command, and provides the obtained request commandto the gateway ECU 15. The navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15, towhich the request command is provided, perform a “response commandstatus determining routine” in step S151 in cooperation with each other.

As shown in FIG. 8, the “response command status determining routine” isstarted in step S200. In step S201, the navigation ECU11 and the gatewayECU 15 determine whether each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 responds tothe request command properly, and transmits a response to the center 20properly. When it is determined that each of the devices and ECUsmounted in the vehicle 10 responds to the request command properly, andtransmits a response to the request command properly, both thenavigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 make an affirmativedetermination, and step S202 is then performed.

In step S202, the navigation ECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 store thestatus information “$00”, which indicates that each of the devices andECUs responds to the request command properly, that is, an abnormalityhas not occurred, in the RAM of the navigation ECU 11. In step S209, the“response command status determining routine” ends. On the other hand,when it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in at least oneof the devices or at least one of the ECUs, and the device or the ECUdoes not respond to the request command properly, both the navigationECU 11 and the gateway ECU 15 make a negative determination, and stepS203 is then performed.

In step S203, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether the command canbe recognized. When the request command itself transmitted from thecenter 20 is the information which cannot be recognized by thenavigation ECU 11 (undefined information), the navigation ECU 11 makes anegative determination, and step S204 is then performed. In step S204,the navigation ECU 11 stores the status information “$FF”, whichindicates that the request command is the information which cannot berecognized, in the RAM. In step S209, the “response command statusdetermining routine” ends. On the other hand, when the request commandis the information which can be recognized by the navigation ECU 11, thenavigation ECU 11 makes an affirmative determination, and step S205 isthen performed.

In step S205, the gateway ECU 15 provides the request command to each ofthe ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, and determines whether each of the ECUs doesnot make a response, and whether the response is time-out when there isa response. When it is determined that there is no response from theECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, or the response is time-out, the gateway ECU 15makes an affirmative determination, and step S206 is then performed. Instep S206, the gateway ECU15 outputs the status information “$FE”, whichindicates that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the ECUs16, 17, 18 and 19, to the navigation ECU 11. In step S209, the “responsecommand status determining routine” ends. On the other hand, when thereis a response from the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, and the response is nottime-out, the gateway ECU 15 makes a negative determination, and stepS207 is then performed.

In step S207, the navigation ECU 11 determines whether the gateway ECU15 responds to the request command. When there is a gateway ECU 15 orwhen the gateway ECU 15 is connected to the network built in the vehicle10 and therefore the gateway ECU 15 responds to the request command, thenavigation ECU 11 makes an affirmative determination. In this case,since the status information is not output, the navigation ECU 11 andthe gateway ECU 15 perform step S201 and the following steps again, andrepeatedly perform these steps until the status information is output.On the other hand, when there is no gateway ECU 15 or when the gatewayECU 15 is not connected to the network built in the vehicle 10 andtherefore the gateway ECU 15 does not respond to the request command,the navigation ECU 11 makes a negative determination, and step S208 isthen performed. In step S208, the navigation ECU 11 stores the statusinformation “$FD”, which indicates that there is no gateway ECU 15 orthat the gateway ECU 15 is not connected to the network, in the RAM. Instep S209, the “response command status determining routine” ends.

The process returns to the flowchart in FIG. 7. After step S151 isperformed, in step S152, the navigation ECU 11 provides the obtainedstatus information to the communication device 14, and instructs thecommunication device 14 to transmit the status information to the center20. The communication device 14 transmits the status information to thecenter 20 according to the instruction.

In the center 20, in step C152, the control device 2I receives thestatus information transmitted in step S152, and temporarily stores thestatus information in the RAM. Step C153 is then performed. By receivingthe status information from the vehicle 10, the control device 21 of thecenter 20 can ascertain where in the vehicle 10 the abnormality hasoccurred, in addition to whether an abnormality has occurred in thecommunication.

In step C153, the control device 21 determines whether the statusinformation “$FE”, that is, the status information indicating that anabnormality has occurred in at least one of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19,has been received. When the status information has not been received,the control device 21 makes a negative determination, and the“communication abnormality diagnostic program” ends in step C156. On theother hand, when the status information “$FE” has been received, thecontrol device 21 makes an affirmative determination, and step C154 isthen performed.

In step C154, the control device 21 requests the vehicle 10 to transmitthe failure information in order to check in which of the ECU among theECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 an abnormality has occurred, or whether anabnormality has occurred in a connection path connecting the ECUs toeach other (hereinafter, this connection path will be referred to as a“destination bus”). When transmission of the failure information isrequested, the destination information of each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18and 19 is attached and transmitted.

In the vehicle 10, in step S153, the communication device 14 receivesthe transmission request for the failure information transmitted in stepC154, and provides the transmission request to the navigation ECU 11.The navigation ECU 11 obtains the transmission request for the providedfailure information, and provides the transmission request to thegateway ECU 15.

In step S154, the gateway ECU 15 outputs the output request for thefailure information to each of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 using thedestination information attached to the transmission request for thefailure information obtained in step S153. At least when there is aresponse from the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 to the output request, anothercommunication to the destination bus is performed properly. Therefore,the gateway ECU 15 makes an affirmative determination, and step S155 isthen performed. In step S155, the gateway ECU 15 outputs the failureinformation, which indicates that an abnormality has occurred in theresponse function of at least one of the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19, to thenavigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 obtains the output failureinformation, and provides the failure information to the communicationdevice 14. The communication device 14 transmits the provided failureinformation to the center 20.

On the other hand, in step S154, when there is no response from the ECUs16, 17, 18 and 19, an abnormality has occurred in the destination bus.Therefore, the gateway ECU 15 makes a negative determination, and stepS156 is then performed. In step S156, the gateway ECU 15 outputs thefailure information indicating that an abnormality has occurred in thedestination bus to the navigation ECU 11. The navigation ECU 11 obtainsthe output failure information, and provides the failure information tothe communication device 14. The communication device 14 transmits theprovided failure information to the center 20.

In the center 20, in step C155, the control device 21 receives thefailure information transmitted in step S155 or S156. Thus, the controldevice 21 can determine in which of the ECU among the ECUs 16, 17, 18and 19 an abnormality has occurred, or whether an abnormality hasoccurred in the destination bus connecting the ECUs to each other. Then,the “communication abnormality diagnostic program” ends in step C156.

In the above-mentioned vehicular diagnostic system, the user can checkthe alarm lamp illumination information and the abnormality notificationtransmitted from the center 20 by the display indicated on the displayunit 13 mounted in the vehicle 10 or by voice. In addition, the alarmlamp illumination information and the abnormality notification can bechecked by using the personal computer 40 or the portable informationterminal device 50 which can be used by the user.

The user operates the personal computer 40 or the portable informationterminal device 50, and accesses the center 20 via the network 60. Moreparticularly, the user inputs the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of thecenter 20 which is notified in advance, the user ID information, and theuser password, through the use of the input device of the personalcomputer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50.

Thus, the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminaldevice 50 accesses the center 20 based on the input URL. When thepersonal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50accesses the center 20, the control device 21 of the center 20authenticates the user based on the transmitted user ID information andthe user password. The control device 21 authenticates the user bycomparing the user identification information stored in the database 24in advance with the transmitted user ID information and the userpassword, using the user information database 24. When authenticatingthe user, the control device 21 transmits the initial screen informationto the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device50. When transmitting the initial screen information, the control device21 incorporates the vehicle ID information (e.g., registration number)stored in the user information database 24 in advance into the initialscreen information, and transmits this initial screen information.

When the initial screen information is transmitted from the center 20,the initial screen is displayed on the display unit of the personalcomputer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50, as shown inFIG. 11. On the initial screen, when the user clicks the “my car diary”button “M”, this selection information is transmitted to the center 20.When receiving the selection information, the control device 21 of thecenter 20 extracts the history information which is stored in relationwith the vehicle ID information that matches the above vehicle IDinformation in all the history information stored in the historyinformation database 27, using the vehicle ID information. The controldevice 21 transmits the my car diary screen information, which isautomatically prepared by incorporating the extracted historyinformation into the predetermined format, to the personal computer 40or the portable information terminal device 50.

When receiving the my car diary screen information transmitted from thecenter 20, the personal computer 40 or the portable information terminaldevice 50 changes the display screen from the initial screen, anddisplays the my car diary screen, as shown in FIG. 12. Thus, the usercan check the date when an abnormality occurred in the vehicle 10, thecause of the alarm lamp illumination and the guidance, using thepersonal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50.

Also, the user can obtain the automobile dealer information by accessingthe center 20 using the personal computer 40 or the portable informationterminal device 50. The user can access the automobile dealerinformation database 26 by accessing the center 20 using the personalcomputer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50. This offersconvenience to the user, since the user can obtain the automobile dealerinformation, that is, the business days and business hours whennecessary.

Since the user obtains the automobile dealer information according tothe operation by the user, leaking of the private information can beprevented. For example, when the automobile dealer information isunilaterally transmitted from the automobile dealer to the user, theautomobile dealer needs to obtain the user private information such asan e-mail address or a phone number in advance. However, since the userand the automobile dealer communicate with each other via the center 20,the automobile dealer need not obtain the private information.Therefore, the private information need not be unnecessarily shared withthe automobile dealer. As a result, the private information can bereliably protected.

As can be understood from the above description, according to theembodiment, since the vehicle 10 transmits the alarm lamp illuminationinformation to the center 20, a load is prevented from being placed onthe communication line. Therefore, the center 20 can ascertain whetheran abnormality has occurred in the vehicle 10 in real time, whichenables prompt provision of countermeasures to the user. The vehicle 10collects and transmits the failure information (diagnostic information)related to the abnormality, after transmitting the alarm lampillumination information. The center 20 can thus check the abnormalityin more detail, which enables provision of more appropriatecountermeasures to the user.

The center 20 transmits the abnormality notification for occurrence ofan abnormality based on the alarm lamp illumination information.Therefore, the user can easily take appropriate countermeasures for theabnormality. Also, the center 20 transmits the detailed abnormalitycountermeasure information for the abnormality based on the failureinformation (diagnostic information). Therefore, the user can takeappropriate countermeasures for the abnormality.

Since the abnormality countermeasure information and the detailedabnormality countermeasure information are prepared by the person(s)responsible at the automobile dealer, expert opinions regarding theabnormality can be included. Therefore, the user can take moreappropriate countermeasures for the abnormality. Since the person(s)responsible can analyze the abnormality, appropriate countermeasures canbe taken for each cause of the abnormality individually. Therefore, theuser can take more appropriate countermeasures. By transmitting thefailure information, that is, the diagnostic information from thevehicle 10, the automobile dealer can ascertain the abnormalityaccurately. Therefore, appropriate countermeasures can be provided tothe user.

The center 20 can obtain the failure information (diagnosticinformation) from the vehicle 10 when necessary. The center 20 cantransmit the obtained failure information (diagnostic information) tothe automobile dealer computer 30. Therefore, the center 20 can transmitthe detailed abnormality countermeasure information prepared at theautomobile dealer to the user at appropriate timing.

Also, the vehicle 10 collects the failure information (diagnosticinformation) when being stopped. This prevents an increase in a loadplaced on the ECUs 16, 17, 18 and 19 which control the devices relatedto functions necessary for running of the vehicle 10, that is, “run,stop, and turn”. Therefore, the user can drive the vehicle suitably.

Also, collection of the failure information (diagnostic information) canbe started when the user operates the reservation button 13 bincorporated in the abnormality notification. Therefore, an intention ofthe user can be directly or indirectly reflected on the determinationwhether the failure information (diagnostic information) is to betransmitted.

Also, the alarm lamp illumination history can be checked by using thepersonal computer 40 or the portable information terminal device 50.Thus, the user can check an abnormality which has occurred in thevehicle 10, for example, by using a cellular phone, even when the useris not in the vehicle 10. Also, a person other than the user can checkan abnormality which has occurred in the vehicle using a cellular phoneor the like. Thus, for example, when the alarm lamp 17 a of the vehicle10 turns off immediately after illuminating and the user has notrecognized occurrence of an abnormality, a person other than the usercan notify the user of occurrence of the abnormality.

In the above embodiment, the center 20 transmits the abnormalitynotification to the vehicle 10 based on the abnormality countermeasureinformation transmitted from the automobile dealer computer 30 via thecommunication between the center 20 and the automobile dealer computer30 in the automobile dealer. Instead of this, the abnormalitycountermeasure information may be prepared at the center 20 and then theabnormality notification may be transmitted. In this case, theabnormality countermeasure information is stored in the center 20 inadvance, and the control device 21 of the center 20 appropriately selectthe stored abnormality countermeasure information based on the alarmlamp illumination information and the failure information (diagnosticinformation). The control device 21 then prepares the abnormalitynotification using the selected abnormality countermeasure information,and transmits the abnormality notification to the vehicle. In thismethod, the same effects as those in the above embodiment can beobtained.

1. A vehicular diagnostic method, comprising: determining whether afailure has occurred in a device mounted in a vehicle; transmitting afirst failure information that specifies the failure that is determinedto have occurred, from the vehicle to a communications center; receivingthe first failure information at the communications center, whereupon afirst countermeasure information, which provides countermeasures for thefailure specified in the first failure information, is prepared;transmitting the first countermeasure information from thecommunications center to the vehicle; receiving the first countermeasureinformation at the vehicle, whereupon the vehicle notifies a user of thevehicle of the countermeasures provided in the first countermeasureinformation and requests an ECU of the device that has the failure toprovide details regarding the failure and proceeds to collect thedetails regarding the failure from the ECU of the device that has thefailure for transmission in a second failure information which specifiesthe collected details regarding the failure; determining whether a datavolume of the second failure information is equal to or larger than apredetermined information volume; dividing the second failureinformation into plural pieces of the information such that each piecehas the predetermined information volume when the data volume of thesecond failure information is equal to or larger than the predeterminedinformation volume; transmitting the second failure information from thevehicle to the communications center; receiving the second failureinformation at the communications center, whereupon the collecteddetails regarding the failure specified in the second failureinformation, are checked and a second countermeasure information, whichprovides detailed countermeasures for the failure, is prepared;transmitting the second countermeasure information from thecommunications center to the vehicle; and receiving the secondcountermeasure information at the vehicle, whereupon the vehiclenotifies the user of the detailed countermeasures provided in the secondcountermeasure information.
 2. The vehicular diagnostic method accordingto claim 1, wherein: upon receiving the first failure information, thecommunications center transmits the first failure information to acomputer provided at an automobile dealer that services the vehicle,which prepares the first countermeasure information in response to thefirst failure information and transmits the prepared firstcountermeasure information to the communications center; and, whereinupon receiving the second failure information, the communications centertransmits the second failure information to the computer at theautomobile dealer, which prepares the second countermeasure informationin response to the second failure information and transmits the preparedsecond countermeasure information to the communications center.
 3. Thevehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein it isdetermined that a failure has occurred in the device mounted in thevehicle when an alarm lamp, which illuminates when an abnormality hasoccurred in the device mounted in the vehicle, illuminates; and thefirst failure information indicates that the alarm lamp has illuminated.4. The vehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein thecollected details regarding the failure specified in the second failureinformation include at least one of sensor information from varioussensors mounted in the vehicle, operation state information of thedevice mounted in the vehicle, and self-diagnosis information from thedevice mounted in the vehicle.
 5. The vehicular diagnostic methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: transmitting an informationtransmission request, which requests the vehicle to transmit the secondfailure information, from the communications center after the firstfailure information has been received; and receiving the informationtransmission request at the vehicle, whereupon the vehicle transmits thesecond failure information to the communications center.
 6. Thevehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1, further comprising:determining whether the vehicle is running, wherein collection of atleast the details regarding the failure for transmission in the secondfailure information is prohibited when it is determined that the vehicleis running, and collection of at least the details regarding the failurefor transmission in the second failure information proceeds when it isdetermined that the vehicle is not running.
 7. The vehicular diagnosticmethod according to claim 6, wherein the collection of at least thedetails regarding the failure for transmission in the second failureinformation, when it is determined that the vehicle is not running,proceeds when the user of the vehicle performs a predeterminedoperation.
 8. The vehicular diagnostic method according to claim 7,wherein the predetermined operation performed by the user initiates thecollection of the details regarding the failure for transmission in thesecond failure information.
 9. The vehicular diagnostic method accordingto claim 8, wherein the predetermined operation performed by the user isan operation of an operating means that includes a preset function toinitiate the collection of the details regarding the failure fortransmission in the second failure information.
 10. The vehiculardiagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein the details regardingthe failure to be collected for transmission in the second failureinformation are related only to the failure specified in the firstfailure information.
 11. The vehicular diagnostic method according toclaim 1, wherein the vehicle transmits the first failure information atpredetermined intervals of time, when transmitting the first failureinformation to the communications center two or more times.
 12. Thevehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein the centerreceives the first failure information at predetermined intervals oftime, when receiving the first failure information from the vehicle twoor more times.
 13. The vehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1,wherein the vehicle transmits the second failure information atpredetermined intervals of time, when transmitting the second failureinformation to the communications center two or more times.
 14. Thevehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1, wherein the centerreceives the second failure information at predetermined intervals oftime when receiving the second failure information from the vehicle twoor more times.
 15. The vehicular diagnostic method according to claim 1,further comprising storing at least the first failure information, fromamong the first failure information and second failure information,transmitted from the vehicle to the communications center; and providingat least the first failure information stored at the communicationscenter to an external terminal device requesting at least the firstfailure information.
 16. A vehicular diagnostic system, comprising:failure detection means, provided in a vehicle, for detecting theoccurrence of a failure in a device mounted in the vehicle; failureinformation output means, provided in the vehicle, for outputtingfailure information specifying the failure detected by the failuredetection means; vehicle communication means, provided in the vehicle,for transmitting failure information, which is output from the failureinformation output means and for receiving countermeasure information;communications center communication means, provided at a communicationscenter, for receiving failure information from the vehicle and fortransmitting countermeasure information to the vehicle; countermeasureinformation preparation means, provided at the communications center,for preparing countermeasure information that provides countermeasuresfor the failure specified in failure information from the vehicle, andvehicle failure notification means for notifying a user of the vehicleof countermeasures provided in countermeasure information from thecommunications center; wherein the failure information output meansoutputs a first failure information that specifies the failure detectedby the failure detection means in the device mounted in the vehicle andthe vehicle communication means transmits the first failure informationfrom the vehicle to the communications center; the countermeasureinformation preparation means prepares a first countermeasureinformation in response to the failure specified in the first failureinformation received by the communications center communication meansand the communications center communication means transmits the firstcountermeasure information to the vehicle; the vehicle failurenotification means notifies the user of the countermeasures provided inthe first countermeasure information; the failure information meansrequests an ECU of the device that has the failure to provide detailsregarding the failure and proceeds to collect the details regarding thefailure detected by the failure detection means from the ECU of thedevice that has the failure for transmission in a second failureinformation; the failure information means determines whether a datavolume of the second failure information is equal to or lamer than apredetermined information volume, and divides the second failureinformation into plural pieces of the information such that each piecehas the predetermined information volume when the data volume of thesecond failure information is equal to or larger than the predeterminedinformation volume; the vehicle communication means transmits the secondfailure information to the communications center when the vehiclecommunication means receives the first countermeasure information; thecountermeasure information preparation means prepares a secondcountermeasure information in response to the collected detailsregarding the failure specified in the second failure information andthe communications center communication means transmits the secondcountermeasure information to the vehicle; and the failure notificationmeans notifies the user of detailed countermeasures indicated in thesecond countermeasure information when the vehicle communication meansreceives the second countermeasure information.
 17. The vehiculardiagnostic system according to claim 16, further comprising: storagemeans, provided at the communications center, for storing at least thefirst failure information from among the first failure information andthe second failure information received by the center communicationmeans.
 18. The vehicular diagnostic system according to claim 16,wherein the failure detection means is an alarm lamp illumination devicemounted in the vehicle.
 19. The vehicular diagnostic system according toclaim 16, wherein the collected details regarding the failure, specifiedin the second failure information, include at least one of sensorinformation from various sensors mounted in the vehicle, operation stateinformation of the device mounted in the vehicle, and self-diagnosisinformation from the device mounted in the vehicle.
 20. A vehicle,comprising: failure detection means for detecting the occurrence of afailure in a device mounted in the vehicle; failure information outputmeans for means for outputting failure information specifying thefailure detected by the failure detection means; communication means fortransmitting failure information, output from the failure informationoutput means, to a device outside of the vehicle and for receivingcountermeasure information from the device outside of the vehicle; andfailure notification means for notifying a user of the vehicle ofcountermeasures indicated in countermeasure information from the deviceoutside of the vehicle, wherein the failure information output meansoutputs a first failure information that specifies the failure detectedby the failure detection means in the device mounted in the vehicle, thecommunication means transmits the first failure information to thedevice outside of the vehicle and receives a first countermeasureinformation from the device in response; after receiving the firstcountermeasure information, the vehicle failure notification meansnotifies the user of the countermeasures provided in the firstcountermeasure information and requests an ECU of the device that hasthe failure to provide details regarding the failure; the failureinformation means proceeds to collect the details regarding the failuredetected by the failure detection means from the ECU of the device thathas the failure for transmission in a second failure information,determines whether a data volume of the second failure information isequal to or larger than a predetermined information volume, and dividesthe second failure information into plural pieces of the informationsuch that each piece has the predetermined information volume when thedata volume of the second failure information is equal to or larger thanthe predetermined information volume; the communication means transmitsthe second failure information to the device outside of the vehicle andreceives a second countermeasure information from the device inresponse, the failure notification means notifies the user ofcountermeasures indicated in the second countermeasure information. 21.The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the failure detection meansof the vehicle is an alarm lamp illumination device mounted in thevehicle.
 22. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein the collecteddetails regarding the failure specified in the second failureinformation include at least one of sensor information from varioussensors mounted in the vehicle, operation state information of thedevice mounted in the vehicle, and self-diagnosis information from thedevice mounted in the vehicle.
 23. A vehicular diagnostic systemcomprising: a failure detection device, provided in a vehicle, thatdetects the occurrence of a failure in a device mounted in the vehicle;and a vehicle communication device, provided in a vehicle, thattransmits failure information specifying the failure detected by thefailure detection device; a communications center communication device,provided at a communications center, that receives failure informationtransmitted from the vehicle and transmits countermeasure informationthat provides countermeasures for the specified failure to the vehicle;a failure notification device, provided in the vehicle, that notifies auser of the vehicle countermeasures indicated in countermeasureinformation from the communications center; and a controller, providedin the vehicle, that collects detailed failure information regarding thedetected failure after the vehicle communication device receivescountermeasure information from the communications center; wherein thevehicle communication device transmits a first failure informationspecifying the failure detected by the failure detection device to thecommunications center when the failure detection device detects thefailure in the device mounted in the vehicle and; the communicationscenter communication device receives the first failure information andtransmits to the vehicle a first countermeasure information, whichprovides countermeasure for the failure specified in the first failureinformation, in response; when the vehicle communication device receivesthe first countermeasure information, the failure notification devicenotifies the user of countermeasures indicated in the firstcountermeasure information and requests an ECU of the device that hasthe failure to provide details regarding the failure and the controllerproceeds to collect the details regarding the failure from the ECU ofthe device that has the failure for transmission in a second failureinformation; the controller determines whether a data volume of thesecond failure information is equal to or larger than a predeterminedinformation volume, and divides the second failure information intoplural pieces of the information such that each piece has thepredetermined information volume when the data volume of the secondfailure information is equal to or larger than the predeterminedinformation volume; the vehicle communication device transmits thesecond failure information to the to the communications center; thecommunications center communication device receives the second failureinformation and transmits to the vehicle a second countermeasureinformation, which provides countermeasures for the second failureinformation, in response; and the failure notification device notifiesthe user of countermeasures provided in the second countermeasureinformation when the vehicle communication device receives the secondcountermeasure information.
 24. The vehicular diagnostic systemaccording to claim 23, further comprising: a storage device, provided atthe communications center, that stores at least the first failureinformation from among the first failure information and the secondfailure information received by the center communication device.
 25. Thevehicular diagnostic system according to claim 23, wherein the failuredetection device of the vehicle is an alarm lamp illumination devicemounted in the vehicle.
 26. The vehicular diagnostic system according toclaim 23, wherein the collected details regarding the failure specifiedin the second failure information include at least one of sensorinformation from various sensors mounted in the vehicle, operation stateinformation of the device mounted in the vehicle, and self-diagnosisinformation from the device mounted in the vehicle.
 27. The vehiculardiagnostic system according to claim 23, wherein the failure notifyingdevice is a navigation unit.
 28. A vehicle, comprising: a failuredetection device that detects the occurrence of a failure in a devicemounted in the vehicle; a controller that requests an ECU of the devicethat has the failure to provide details regarding the failure andoutputs a first failure information specifying the detected failure,proceeds to collect the details regarding the failure detected by thefailure detection device from the ECU of the device that has thefailure, determines whether a data volume of a second failureinformation is equal to or larger than a predetermined informationvolume, divides the second failure information into plural pieces of theinformation such that each piece has the predetermined informationvolume when the data volume of the second failure information is equalto or larger than the predetermined information volume, and outputs thesecond failure information specifying detailed information regarding thedetected failure; a communication device that transmits the firstfailure information output from the controller and transmits the secondfailure information output from the controller to the device outside ofthe vehicle, and that receives a first countermeasure information,responding to the first failure information, and a second countermeasureinformation, responding to the second failure information, from thedevice outside of the vehicle; and a failure notification device thatnotifies a user of the vehicle of countermeasures provided in the firstcountermeasure information and the second countermeasure information.29. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the failure detectiondevice is an alarm lamp illumination device mounted in the vehicle. 30.The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the collected detailsregarding the failure specified in the second failure informationinclude at least one of sensor information from various sensors mountedin the vehicle, operation state information of the device mounted in thevehicle, and self-diagnosis information from the device mounted in thevehicle.
 31. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the failurenotification device is a navigation unit.